After Dinner Speakers: Stephen Hendry, Brazil Yes!!!, Mike Hallett

STEPHEN Hendry is quite simply the best player that has ever lived. Just ask the likes of former world champions Dennis Taylor, Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths, Ken Doherty, Mark Williams and several others! His record of achievements is unparalleled, and his record breaking seventh world title in 1999 at Sheffield, proved not only what a great player he is, but what a courageous fighter he is too. After the loss of form he had suffered over the previous 18 months, in particular the shattering 9-0 loss to Marcus Campbell in the 1998 UK Championship and the narrowest of losses in the final of the 1999 Regal Welsh, many observers of the game believed that the only way was down for the gifted Scot. But Hendry battled back to the top of his game. Revered in Scotland, Stephen was voted BBC Scotland's Sports Personality of the Year in 1987 and 1996. A further recognition of his pre-eminence in the game came in 1994 when he was awarded the MBE. In June 2000 he was granted an Honorary Doctorate by Stirling University, and in 2001 collected the prestigious MacRoberts Trophy, putting him alongside the likes of three-times world F1 champion Jackie Stewart. Hendry was voted WPBSA Player of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1997. He was Young Player of the Year in 1988. He captained Scotland to victory in the World Cup in Bangkok in 1996, and on his return as captain of his country in the 2001 Nations Cup, again raised the silverware. One of Stephen's most memorable performances came in the final of the 1997 Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge. Having lost six successive frames, that saw Ronnie O'Sullivan at his imperious best, Hendry stepped up at 8-8 and calmly completed a 147 maximum break. It was his fourth maximum in tournament play. Hendry's 1999-2000 season started in style with victory in the Champions Cup, which he followed up with another commanding win in the British Open, a performance topped by a 147 maximum break during the final. He repeated his maximum achievement during the UK Championship, but had to wait until the final event of the season to put another trophy in the packed cabinet at Spencers Leisure in Stirling, as he beat Mark Williams to take the Alto Digital League title. The biggest shock of the season came in the first round of the Embassy World Championship when Stephen was beaten by then world No.92 unknown Stuart Bingham. During 2000-01, Hendry only showed his best form in patches. But his victory at the Malta Grand Prix - including yet another televised maximum - proves that the youngest ever world champion should never be written off. And the new campaign finally brought the Scot's ranking title drought to an end as he won the European Open in Valletta. Hendry's 9-2 final victory over Joe Perry secured him his first ranking event in 26 months, his last being the 1999 British Open, with the Scot crediting the work done by coach Terry Griffiths. There was almost another Crucible success to end the campaign, but Hendry suffered the agony of an 18-17 final loss to Peter Ebdon. It was little consolation that he had made his 100th hundred at The Crucible - while setting a new reord of 16 tons during the final stages – or that he had won many new admirers with the dignified silence he maintained following Ronnie O’Sullivan’s verbal attack on him ahead of their semi-final tie. Of players currently in the top 16, Hendry has spent the longest unbroken run there, and looks certain to stay there for quite a while longer, especially after he secured yet another ranking title in January 2003 by beating friend Mark Williams in the final of the Regal Welsh Open. A few weeks later, Williams gained his revenge in the final of the B&H Masters, while Hendry also reached the final of the European Open before losing to O’Sullivan. However, Hendry couldn’t have made a worse possible start to the 2003/04 campaign when he trusty cue was smashed while returning from Thailand. Though pieced together by Lawrie Annnandale, the cue wasn’t the same and Hendry had to find a new ‘stick.’ After losing his first match at the LG Cup to Matthew Holt, Hendry responded as only he can by beating O’Sullivan to take the British Open title in Brighton, the 35th ranking title of his illustrious career. Stephen likes to relax at home with his favourite music - Pink Floyd and U2 - is a self-confessed "Blackadder" fanatic, an F1 buff, and an accomplished golfer. Lately, he has added a regular gym workout to his schedule to keep himself physically fit. He was married in June 1995, to Mandy, his long-time girlfriend, whom he met while playing in amateur competition at Pontins. They have one son, Blaine, who memorably appeared at The Crucible in 1999 as Hendry raised the trophy.